Giving to CU Denver
Thank you for considering support of the University of Colorado Denver. The generosity of donors like you can prove life-changing to students who rely on scholarship awards to pursue their passions at CU Denver and earn their degrees. As a donor to CU Denver, you ignite a partnership in which you provide the resources that help students fulfill their potential while we ensure that your gift is managed responsibly and effectively.
Gifts made to the University of Colorado Denver are managed by the nonprofit University of Colorado Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that works collaboratively with the university to manage and invest private support on behalf of CU Denver.
Ways to Give
Double Your Impact
Types of Gifts
Outright Gifts
Outright gifts make up the majority of contributions to CU, and encompass the following gift types: cash, stocks and bonds, real estate, tangible personal property, matching gifts or gifts-in-kind. In general, outright gifts qualify for an immediate income tax deduction.
Endowments
Endowments are gifts that keep on giving and serve as a reliable long-term funding source that supports a designated purpose at CU in perpetuity. The principle amount of an endowed fund is permanently invested by the University of Colorado Foundation in its Long Term Investment Pool (LTIP), generating interest income that is then used to fund the purpose designated by the donor. You may establish a scholarship endowment with a minimum commitment of $25,000, which can be paid over time, up to five years.
Planned Gifts
A planned gift refers to a wide array of customizable giving mechanisms that may blend current and future commitments, maximize tax and estate factors, and optimize your current cash flow or finances. Common planned gift types include:
- Bequests
- Charitable gift annuities
- Charitable remainder trusts
- Real estate
- Retirement accounts
By taking part in this opportunity, you will become a member of the Heritage Society. Learn more at our Gift Planning website or contact Susan Cleveland, Director of Gift Planning.
Blended Gifts
A blended gift refers to a gift that includes a current gift combined with any of the planned giving instruments noted above. Blended gifts are attractive to those who wish to make a significant impact on future students through their estate plans while providing near-term support to today’s students.
King Soopers Card
Did you know you can support CU Denver students through the shopping you already do every week? When you connect your King Soopers or City Market loyalty card to CU Denver, a percentage of every transaction associated with your card number is donated to the CU Denver Food Pantry Fund.
Milo's Market is CU Denver's free food pantry available to all students.
- Visit kingsoopers.com/signin or citymarket.com/signin
- Sign in if you have an account—or click “Create an Account” and enter your name, email, and password. If you have an existing loyalty card, enter your card number or “Alt ID” (usually a phone number)
- Once logged in, go to the user icon toward the top right corner of the window. From the drop-down menu, click “My Account”
- Scroll the menu options and select “View Community Rewards”
- When prompted to “Find an Organization,” use the search bar to look up either “WS338” or “University of Colorado Denver”
- When the “University of Colorado Denver” option appears, click “Enroll”
Giving Societies
CU Denver Loyal
CU Denver Loyal is a recognition program that honors individuals who give consistently over time to the university. Donors who make consecutive annual gifts receive special recognition at milestones ranging from 3 to 30 years.
Donors who reach lifetime giving milestones of $500 and $1,000 also receive special recognition. To express our gratitude, we are very proud to acknowledge Loyal donors with tokens of appreciation specially designed by CU Denver’s creative and talented students and alumni.
Heritage Society
CU welcomes those who have informed the university of their plans for future estate gifts to become members of the CU Heritage Society, a prestigious group of supporters who engage in meaningful ways across the CU campuses. The university is both inspired by and grateful for the legacy gifts that Heritage Society members provide to support CU.
The Heritage Society hosts a luncheon each spring.
Benson Society
The Benson Society recognizes individuals and private/family foundations that donate $1 million or more to the university. The society is named for Bruce Benson, who served as CU president from 2008 to 2017. He and his wife, Marcy, chaired two comprehensive fundraising campaigns for CU, Creating Futures (which exceeded its $1.5 billion goal in 2013) and Beyond Boundaries (which exceeded its $1 billion goal in 2003). The university set fundraising records in each year of Benson’s presidency. Bruce Benson is an alumnus of CU, having earned his geology degree in 1964.
The Benson Society’s signature event is an annual awards and induction ceremony held each spring.
CU Foundation Performance
As of June 30, 2025, the Foundation managed over $3.2 billion in assets for the University of Colorado, including over 4,000 current fund accounts and over 3,650 endowment funds. The endowments collectively were valued at $2.5 billion, and the Foundation’s Long Term Investment Pool (LTIP) was valued at $3.0 billion.For the fiscal year ending 2025, the University of Colorado Foundation’s LTIP returned a gain of 10.4% (net of fees). The LTIP’s 3-year annualized investment performance was +8.95%, its 7-year performance was +9.10%, its 10-year performance was +8.63%, and its 15-year performance was +9.16%. See the Investment Update for a current report on the LTIP’s recent investment performance.
For complete financial statements from the CU Foundation, please see the Foundation's website.